Is the Zen X-Fi SD card integration better? Anyone that owns a creative x-fi, can you tell me if the SD card is integrated better then it was on the zen. Also, is the firmware still really buggy?Thank you. Is the Zen X-Fi SD card integration better? Anyone that owns a creative x-fi, can you tell me if the SD card is integrated better then it was on the zen. Also, is the firmware still really... » Read More Is the Zen X-Fi SD card integration better? Anyone that owns a creative x-fi, can you tell me if the SD card is integrated better then it was on the zen. Also, is the firmware still really buggy?Thank you. « Show Less
11833
From what I've read, the SD card integration is pretty much the same as before.Hopefully, they'll fix it in a firmware update, but I doubt it.I think they just released a new firmware update on July 29.
11834
Actually, you can.You just need to convert the video using Creative's Video Converter.
11835
My question may not be totally relivant, but I'm a novice Zen X-Fi 8GB user and need to find out what brand(s) of SDHC cards can be used and where can I get them. Also, I mainly want to watch movies on my Zen, so how much memory is good for that? Thanks for any help you can give me on these questions.
11836
Yes, you can. There is a "Memory Card" section on the Zen that lets you access all files on the SD card directly.
11837
I've used an 8GB A-DATA SDHC card for a long time with my original Zen without a single problem.
11838
http://www.creative.com/products/mp3/zenxfi/?pageLink=sdcard8 gigs should be plenty ~8-9 movies depending on quality
11839
Just remember that you can't use the SD card to play videos bought on-line. Neither Amazon's nor Itunes will work. They must be loaded in the internal memory.
11840
i have a question regarding the SD card integration. Can you play files (audio and video) on the SD card directly or you have to move them to the internal memory before you can play them? Thank you
2189422
Thanks; I'd missed that comment in the dpreview review. Seems to contradict what I found at kenrockwell.com/tech/cf-sd.htm -- basically, that a faster card matters for downloading (e.g. camera to computer) but not in modern cameras unless you overflow their internal buffer memory. Ken's description sounds like picture-taking speed won't be inhibited with a slower card because of the camera's buffer, which is what I care about most. Slower playback and downloading is fine. In other words, write speed is more important to me than read speed and apparently the camera's buffer effectively compensates for slower cards when writing to them. Thanks; I'd missed that comment in the dpreview review. Seems to contradict what I found at kenrockwell.com/tech/cf-sd.htm -- basically, that a faster card matters for downloading (e.g. camera to computer) but not in modern cameras unless you overflow their internal buffer memory. Ken's description sounds like picture-taking speed won't be inhibited with a slower card because of the camera's buffer, which is what I care about most. Slower playback and downloading is fine. In other words, write speed is more important to me than read speed and apparently the camera's buffer effectively... » Read More Thanks; I'd missed that comment in the dpreview review. Seems to contradict what I found at kenrockwell.com/tech/cf-sd.htm -- basically, that a faster card matters for downloading (e.g. camera to computer) but not in modern cameras unless you overflow their internal buffer memory. Ken's description sounds like picture-taking speed won't be inhibited with a slower card because of the camera's buffer, which is what I care about most. Slower playback and downloading is fine. In other words, write speed is more important to me than read speed and apparently the camera's buffer effectively compensates for slower cards when writing to them. « Show Less
2276031
I've got the firmware update and I've had the battery replacement for about a year and a half now and so far I haven't had any issues with it. My Zen gets used quite frequently as well. Hope this bit of info helps out.
1501314
I can't answer for 6 months, but as for mine, I've had it installed for just over 4 months, and I've had -zero- issues with the SD card becoming corrupt. I have even gone so far as to flash the firmware twice without issue. I'm pretty rough on mine, too....lots of mode changes and bluetooth activity. I read the same reviews you did, and I was cautious. So far, so good.
412540
anyone know which card slot is considered as primary card? CF or SD? or is it user definable?it is handy when using 'jpeg to secondary and raw to cf" config.
1830555
I was wondering the same thing. Here's what I got from the Google developer release notes on Honeycomb 3.2 "Media sync from SD card: On devices that support an SD card, users can now load media files directly from the SD card to apps that use them. A system facility makes the files accessible to apps from the system media store." So I agree with yendred... this appears to be a Honeycomb issue. I'm thinking that there's a chance Google will add more SD functionality with a Honeycomb update in the future (they have been gradually ratching up SD functionality with each update of Honeycomb). But, that being said, I wouldn't hold my breath. It seems like manufacturers aren't pushing Google to develop a way to let consumers spend their cash on some third party's SD card when they'd rather force you to shill out an extra $100 to them for the larger internal memory version.... Go figure. I'm reminded of how users figured out ways to connect usb flash drives to ipads using the camera adapter so Apple quickly rushed out a software "update" to iOS that reduced power to the port rendering USB drives unusable via that "work around" (which, incidently, made it hard for photographers who were actually trying to use the "camera adapter" for their camera's CF card, to get their pictures off the card) So long as the business model is designed around tiered pricing for tablets based on internal memory, I don't think any of these manufacturers really want us to be able to add our own memory. I do hope I'm wrong, because the ability to fully utilize removable memory is what's holding me back from any tablet purchase. Sony, Apple, or otherwise.
412544
CF cards write faster. I always use the CF as my main and my SD as my backup. Both Raw and the reason I do this is if I loose my main card, I will still have a RAW file on the backup to edit! Better to edit a RAW file than a jpeg.
1113077
Hi Bob,I want to know that answer also as I'm interested in using the Zen Vision as a photo bank for my Nikon DSLR's. I went to the Creative webpage and couldn't find anything about RAW file compatability, so I left an email asking the question if the Zen would diplay a RAW file or not. I'll let you know what they say if I get a reply.Steve Smithstephen.smith.ctr@diego.af.mil
1155305
MX also will have much better functionality for the SD card. Zen does not import songs/videos into its menus, MX will.I have had the 16gb Zen for a year and a half and love it. My only complaints are 1) lack of accessories such as external speakers with docking options 2) limited SD card functionality and 3) the organizer software is substandard. #1 is worth putting up with since I usually use it outdoors or at the gym, the MX solves #2 and I use WMP instead of the organizer when loading music.If you're looking for an alternative to iPod Nano, this should be at or near the top of your list. MX also will have much better functionality for the SD card. Zen does not import songs/videos into its menus, MX will.I have had the 16gb Zen for a year and a half and love it. My only complaints are 1) lack of accessories such as external speakers with docking options 2) limited SD card functionality and 3) the organizer software is substandard. #1 is worth putting up with since I usually use it outdoors or at the gym, the MX solves #2 and I use WMP instead of the organizer when loading music.If you're looking for an alternative to iPod Nano, this should be at or... » Read More MX also will have much better functionality for the SD card. Zen does not import songs/videos into its menus, MX will.I have had the 16gb Zen for a year and a half and love it. My only complaints are 1) lack of accessories such as external speakers with docking options 2) limited SD card functionality and 3) the organizer software is substandard. #1 is worth putting up with since I usually use it outdoors or at the gym, the MX solves #2 and I use WMP instead of the organizer when loading music.If you're looking for an alternative to iPod Nano, this should be at or near the top of your list. « Show Less
1001852
I too have Windows Vista and am anxious to find out which- if any players are compatible with it. I have about decided on a Creative Zen V or plus and found one at SecureMart.com for $81.00. I hope someone can answer this for us. Ok- I kept searching and I think I will go with YES! Based on......the Vista Compatible site they listed the Creative M something or other that has 30 and 60 Gb for $299.00. I looked at the requirements and they are exactly the same as the Zen V plus. Does this make sense to anyone but me?
1404289
Bob: I see your point, but wonder if the risk of card failure is any worse on the higher capacity card. So long as I download my photos and videos regularly, the only content at risk is the most recent shots which haven't been copied yet. Even a 4GB card can fail, and if it's got irreplaceable pics on it I'm likely to utter some things not intended for mixed company. I've read that the SD cards are only good for so many cycles of save/erase/save..., so presumably the larger capacity card gets erased less frequently, thereby reducing the risk of failure.
1094671
Ooops: read below for someone else's actual experience with this. My original post: I suggest that you research the consequences of the upgrade, before doing it. I read somewhere that, on 4.3, you can read & write to the micro SD card (if you install one, of course), but that you cannot write to it (while installed), once the upgrade has been performed. Subject to your verification and the wisdom of others. Just something I read after I had already upgraded. BTW, upgrade was pretty effortless, FWIW.
1634334
I use it why my Vision:M and couldn't disagree more. With my old Creative Zen Nomad 40GB it was perfect. With the Vision:M, with no custom EQ, it becomes distorted. No setting I've used works. I don't understand why it's doing this, but it has me interested in buying another one.
983658
I agree with Jorge.I have an old zen and I just got the MX.I will never buy another Zen until they show they care about their customers.I am looking for a mew Mp3 player as I speak.
851592
Don't write off the Zune yet. I've had Zen Micro Photos and one terrible characteristic is that the screen is unreadable outdoors. I'm not sure if this is true of the ZVM but some sites I've seen suggest it is. Here are the areas where the Zune beats the Zen: - more scratch resistent and resilient (Zune has a rubberized coating which helps protect it from scratches and drops) - bigger screen - if you do use it for videos the Zune display is the biggest and best - RDS support - if you use the radio you may get station and track ID info - seemingly slightly better battery life, thinner, and lighter (although a bit longer). The Zune is a bit rough around the edges, but it will only get better with new firmware. Microsoft started the project in January, so its still early days. There may be some innovative applications yet of the wifi, and there are rumors of games to come - the Zune has a pretty powerful CPU and does come from the XBox division. Pre-Zune I would say the ZVM was definitely the device to get but the Zune is definitely a contender.
488343
Some say the ASUS card is better. Some say it's a bitch to get running --funky drivers??? I don't know. I also don't know about the ZxR, but the X-Fi card is effortless to install and does a nice job. If your motherboard has embedded sound, you may need to get into the BIOS to disable it rather than doing it from Control Panel, but that would likely always be the case.
422932
I just bought the zen x-fi 8gb and it was VERY simple to transfer amazon unbox videos to it by using the unbox program. They work great. I have NOT tried it with the video rentals that Amazon offers, just the ones you buy or the free ones.